Danger Looms from the Oceans… The UN Issues a Stark Warning to Humanity

18th March 2025

6 minutes read

Danger Looms from the Oceans… The UN Issues a Stark Warning to Humanity

Astrid Puentes Riaño, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, has issued a grave warning regarding the alarming deterioration of the world’s oceans, stating that this ongoing degradation represents an existential threat to humanity. According to her, the decline of marine ecosystems endangers not only oceanic biodiversity but also disrupts global climate patterns and food security for billions of people across the planet. She emphasized that protecting the oceans is not merely an environmental concern; it is a fundamental human rights issue, as a healthy environment is essential for the survival and well-being of both present and future generations.

In a detailed report presented on Friday before the United Nations Human Rights Council, currently holding its 58th session in Geneva, Puentes Riaño highlighted the crucial importance of recognizing the deep interconnection between human activities, natural ecosystems, and ocean health. She underscored that even those living far from coastal regions are indirectly affected by the degradation of marine environments—whether through food supply chains, climate stability, or the quality of air and water. Understanding this interdependence is critical to comprehending the far-reaching consequences of human activities on this fragile equilibrium.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Puentes Riaño pointed out that the ocean is the largest biological system on Earth, covering approximately 70% of the planet’s surface. She noted that nearly one-third of the world’s population—around 2.4 billion people—live within 100 kilometers of an oceanic coastline, highlighting the vital role that oceans play in sustaining human life. In addition to providing essential food resources, oceans absorb nearly 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and generate more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe.

Despite the existence of more than 600 international agreements aimed at protecting marine ecosystems, these ecosystems face increasing threats that are accelerating at an alarming rate. Puentes Riaño emphasized that these threats stem from a combination of climate change, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution, and inadequate governance. She warned that without immediate and coordinated global action, the consequences could be catastrophic, not only for marine biodiversity but for human societies worldwide.

The Greatest Threats Facing the Oceans

Among the most pressing dangers, Puentes Riaño highlighted:

Climate Change and Ocean Acidification:
Rising global temperatures have led to ocean warming, resulting in devastating consequences such as coral bleaching, disruptions in marine life migration patterns, and the collapse of entire ecosystems. Ocean acidification, caused by increased carbon dioxide absorption, is weakening marine organisms such as shellfish and corals, which form the foundation of oceanic food webs.

Overfishing and Marine Resource Depletion:
Unsustainable fishing practices have pushed many fish stocks to the brink of collapse. Overfishing not only threatens species survival but also disrupts the delicate balance of marine food chains. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing exacerbates the crisis, depriving local communities of their livelihoods and destabilizing marine biodiversity.

Seabed Mining and Industrial Exploitation:
The growing interest in deep-sea mining poses a significant threat to fragile and largely unexplored marine ecosystems. The extraction of minerals from the seabed could lead to irreversible damage, as it disturbs the unique and sensitive organisms that thrive in these deep-sea environments. The lack of comprehensive regulations further heightens the risk of environmental disaster.

Plastic and Chemical Pollution:
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste enter the ocean, endangering marine life and contaminating food chains. Microplastics, found in seafood consumed by humans, pose serious health risks. Additionally, chemical pollutants such as heavy metals and industrial waste have long-lasting effects on marine ecosystems, accumulating in fish and other marine organisms.

Coastal Habitat Destruction:
Mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are essential for marine biodiversity, but they are being destroyed at an alarming rate due to urban expansion, deforestation, and industrial activities. These habitats serve as natural barriers against storms and provide crucial breeding grounds for marine species. Their destruction weakens ocean resilience against climate change.

The Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Communities

Puentes Riaño stressed that environmental degradation does not affect all populations equally. Indigenous peoples, small-scale fishers, and coastal communities are disproportionately impacted by ocean deterioration. These groups rely on marine resources for their food, culture, and economic survival. The depletion of fish stocks, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events threaten their way of life, exacerbating poverty and displacement.

Furthermore, she highlighted the alarming rise in violence against environmental defenders. Across the globe, individuals advocating for ocean conservation and sustainable resource management face threats, intimidation, and even assassination. Weak governance and corruption allow powerful industries to exploit marine resources without accountability, further marginalizing communities that depend on these ecosystems.

A Call for Urgent and Ambitious Action

In her report, Puentes Riaño called on world governments, industries, and international organizations to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard the oceans. She outlined a set of concrete recommendations, including:

Turkey: Fog Suspends Ship Traffic in the Bosphorus Strait
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Strengthening Legal Protections for Marine Biodiversity: Governments must enhance marine protected areas (MPAs) and enforce stricter regulations to prevent destructive activities in vulnerable ecosystems. A legally binding high-seas treaty, ensuring the protection of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions, is urgently needed.
Combating Overfishing Through Stronger Regulations: Stricter monitoring and enforcement of sustainable fishing practices are necessary to prevent fishery collapse. Governments should support small-scale fishers and implement science-based quotas to allow fish populations to recover.
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Halting Seabed Mining Until More Research is Conducted: Given the potential environmental devastation of deep-sea mining, Puentes Riaño urged for a global moratorium on these activities until thorough scientific studies can assess the long-term impacts.
Reducing Plastic and Chemical Pollution: Nations must implement stricter waste management policies, ban single-use plastics, and invest in clean technologies to reduce marine pollution. International cooperation is essential to curb plastic waste from reaching the oceans.
“A Swedish Secret” for Raising Happy and Strong Children
Predatory worms devour “everything they encounter” in the Mediterranean
Empowering Indigenous and Coastal Communities: Recognizing the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local fishers in ocean conservation is crucial. Providing legal rights and financial support to these communities can help create sustainable marine stewardship models.
Holding Polluters and Exploitative Industries Accountable: Stronger enforcement mechanisms should be established to ensure that corporations responsible for ocean pollution and resource depletion face legal consequences. Transparency in ocean governance must be improved to combat corruption and illegal activities.
Providing Financial and Technical Support to Developing Nations: Many countries lack the resources to implement effective ocean conservation measures. International funding and knowledge-sharing initiatives can help these nations build resilient marine ecosystems.
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Study: Inhaling diesel fumes may damage the immune system

A Final Warning: Humanity’s Future is Tied to the Oceans

Puentes Riaño concluded her address by warning that the failure to take urgent action will have dire consequences for future generations. If current trends continue, scientists predict that vast portions of marine biodiversity could be lost within the next few decades. The cascading effects of ocean collapse would trigger food shortages, climate instability, and increased humanitarian crises worldwide.

She stressed that humanity cannot afford to treat the oceans as an afterthought in environmental policymaking. Instead, a paradigm shift is needed—one that prioritizes ocean protection as a fundamental human rights issue.

“Our survival depends on the health of our oceans,” Puentes Riaño stated. “If we fail to act now, the damage may become irreversible. The choices we make today will determine whether we pass on a thriving, sustainable planet to future generations or leave them with a world where the oceans have turned into lifeless, polluted waters.”

Her message was clear: the fate of humanity is inextricably linked to the fate of the oceans. The time to act is now.